Introducing General Relativity-Chapter 24

These flashcards cover key concepts related to general relativity, including definitions of relevant astrophysical phenomena and principles.

White dwarf

A stellar remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter, typically the end stage of stars with a mass less than 8 solar masses.

Neutron star

An astronomical object created when a massive star undergoes gravitational collapse after a supernova, consisting mostly of tightly packed neutrons.

Black hole

An object with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it; formed from the remnants of massive stars.

General relativity

Einstein's theory of gravitation that describes gravity as the warping of spacetime caused by mass.

Principle of equivalence

Einstein's idea that local effects of gravity are indistinguishable from acceleration; experiencing weightlessness in a freely falling elevator.

Spacetime

A four-dimensional continuum combining the three dimensions of space with the dimension of time, illustrating how mass warps the universe.

Escape velocity

The minimum speed an object must reach to break free from a celestial body's gravitational pull without additional propulsion.

Gravitational redshift

The phenomenon where light escaping a gravitational field is shifted to longer wavelengths, indicating a slower frequency due to time dilation.

Deflection of light

The bending of light's path due to the curvature of spacetime around massive objects.

Singularity

A point in space where density becomes infinite, typically at the center of a black hole, challenging our understanding of physics.